Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms of Pope Francis’ pontificate by having women serve on the Vatican board that vets nominations for bishops.

A group of Concordia students taking part in a May seminar found themselves in Rome as the American pope, Leo XIV, was named. The group is pictured in St. Peter's Square. ROME — You could call it “Lucky 13.”

The election of the first US pope is a godsend to businesses in Rome, as big-spending pilgrims flocking to the Vatican are also expected to spend in the Eternal City.

Omaha native Blase Cupich is back in the States after attending the conclave in Rome last week. He's one of the 251 cardinals in the world. Sign up for our Newsletters Cupich spent six years working with Robert Prevost,

The papacy is a global platform, so the issues Pope Leo chooses to focus on can resonate far beyond the church.

Still, it was an exciting moment for the Americans who were at the Vatican that day. Mariner says he and his wife were in a restaurant in Rome at the time, surrounded by dozens of U.S. citizens. When the new pope was announced, Mariner heard many of the patrons joyfully exclaim, “He’s an American!”

Speakers blasted “Born in the U.S.A. and ”American Pie" as six cardinal electors from the United States celebrated the first U.S. pope a day after Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV.

More than a dozen members of the Gary Memorial United Methodist Church in Wheaton already traveling in Rome witnessed papal history.

American Catholics who traveled to Rome spoke to "CBS Mornings" about what they want the next pope to represent as they prepare to witness history.

According to the Opus Dei communications office in Rome, the May 14 encounter was 'a brief meeting in which the Pope expressed his closeness and affection.'